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Root Update to 4.67.651.3 OTA without loosing root or apps...yes you can, but...

L

LotsaBS

Newbie
There is a way to install the 4.67.651.3 OTA without loosing root or your currently installed apps but you have to meet the following criteria:

*You are already rooted but are still using the original odexed stock HTC/Sprint Rom 4.54.651.1.
*You rooted your phone before the previous update (OTA 4.54.651.1) with Unrevoked and have verified that you have S-OFF. (Revolutionary may also work, but is currently untested)
*You are currently using Amon RA recovery (Clockwork may work too, but is untested)

Here is how:

First, do a nandroid...always do a nandroid

Be sure that any apps that you have frozen or deleted have been restored and your phone is back in stock condition (all factory installed apps/bloatware restored). There is no need to remove any other of your installed apps.

Download the OTA, but DO NOT INSTALL IT YET

Move the OTA from the /cache folder (where it downloads to) to the root directory on your SD card or the directory of your choice (just get it out of the /cache folder)

Boot into recovery (Amon RA), choose flash zip from SD card and flash the OTA. If the OTA errors out during the install, you didn't get your phone back to stock, check again.

Verify the OTA installed properly and check to see that Fastboot is disabled

ReInstall Amon RA recovery-installation of the OTA will probably break it, so it needs to be reinstalled.

ReFlash your Superuser file (PC36IMG.zip) from Amon RA recovery to restore SU permissions.

Go back now and refreeze your bloatware.

Done!


Note that the bootloader installed by the new OTA is now updated to version 2.18 and will show as locked (***LOCKED (00W)***), but that has not seemed to have any negative impact, your phone will still be rooted and you can still boot to your installed alternate recovery (ie: Amon RA). All of your previously installed apps will remain and any apps that require root access will operate just fine.

Hopefully HTC will be adding the Evo 4G to the bootloader unlock list or one of the many devs out there will release something soon so you can unlock it in the near future.

Update: If the locked bootloader is a big concern look here:
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-all-things-root/488901-rooting-hboot-2-18-dummies-guide.html under: "HTC booloader unlocker".

This worked fine for my wife's stock, but rooted Evo 4G.

The above is a result of my personal experience. I take no responsibility for your phone and what you do with it...it's your phone.
 
those are all extra steps that you can accomplish by just flashing the stock rooted roms that the devs have put out.

you should never consider accepting the update while you are rooted. just wait for the devs to cook up some roms with the update included. this should apply going forward with all phones that are rooted.
 
ocnbrze said:
those are all extra steps that you can accomplish by just flashing the stock rooted roms that the devs have put out.

you should never consider accepting the update while you are rooted. just wait for the devs to cook up some roms with the update included. this should apply going forward with all phones that are rooted.
Click to expand...

With all due respect, there is a distinct difference between downloading the OTA and installing the OTA.
I wrote this for those who are rooted but continue to use the stock Sprint/HTC rom and don't want to flash another rom or bother with reinstalling all of their apps.
Following this procedure will allow one to update to the newest OTA, preserve root and will not delete your already installed applications.
 
LotsaBS said:
With all due respect, there is a distinct difference between downloading the OTA and installing the OTA.
I wrote this for those who are rooted but continue to use the stock Sprint/HTC rom and don't want to flash another rom or bother with reinstalling all of their apps.
Following this procedure will allow one to update to the newest OTA, preserve root and will not delete your already installed applications.
Click to expand...


Right but you just have to flash the updated rooted stock ROM over your already rooted stock ROM to accomplish that. I agree with the other posters. Keep it simple.
 
LotsaBS said:
With all due respect, there is a distinct difference between downloading the OTA and installing the OTA.
I wrote this for those who are rooted but continue to use the stock Sprint/HTC rom and don't want to flash another rom or bother with reinstalling all of their apps.
Following this procedure will allow one to update to the newest OTA, preserve root and will not delete your already installed applications.
Click to expand...

well first off, i just want to send out my appreciation for the contribution to the forums. your guide is well written and you do make a point. this is a good way to stay with the stock rom and still be rooted and not loose any of your data.

however, i just do not want people into thinking about accepting the ota. this is a very bad habit to get people into. some people may see your thread title and and accept the ota. now they will have to root it with the htc method which watermarks the bootloader. it is better that you just wait for the devs to come out with the stock ota rom and then just flash that on top of your existing stock rom without having to wipe data.

so please do not take it the wrong way. like i said i really appreciate the effort you have putting into your guide. and thanx in helping out this great community we have here in AF.
 
Hello, I am new to the forums... Can anyone help me root my HTC evo 4g? I tried unlocking it earlier and I think I did unlock it, but I would like to root it... Thanks in advance...
 
Don't worry ocnbrze, I wont' take it the wrong way. Thanks. As you said in your last post, "this is a good way to stay with the stock rom and still be rooted and not loose any of your data."

To everyone else, I didn't ever say that this was the only way. As we all know there are many other alternatives...all with their caveats. For example, there are plenty of so-called "stock roms" out there that aren't trully stock (have themes added, apps added or removed etc) that if flashed over a stock OTA may change your phone in an one way or another and may give unexpected results. The forums are littered with casualties.

The method I proposed above works and works well. But, as I said, it is only designed for someone who wishes to update to the latest stock HTC/Sprint Rom, but wants to keep root for whatever the reason. But to use it successfully, you have to meet the criteria I outlined. I have used this method on my wife's Evo successfully since the 4.22.651.2 OTA. That's about a year and four or five OTA's ago. The reasons for rooting her phone were to be able to freeze bloat, and utilize full capabilities of apps like root explorer, and titanium backup etc. She could care less about other roms.

Bottom line is before you do anything to your phone, read, read and the read some more. These forums contain a wealth of information.

Thanks to you ocnbrze your contributions.
 
LotsaBS said:
To everyone else, I didn't ever say that this was the only way. As we all know there are many other alternatives...all with their caveats. For example, there are plenty of so-called "stock roms" out there that aren't trully stock (have themes added, apps added or removed etc) that if flashed over a stock OTA may change your phone in an one way or another and may give unexpected results. The forums are littered with casualties.
Click to expand...

As well as there are plenty of completely stock ROMS that are untouched. There were already 2 of them just days after the OTA was released.

LotsaBS said:
The method I proposed above works and works well. But, as I said, it is only designed for someone who wishes to update to the latest stock HTC/Sprint Rom, but wants to keep root for whatever the reason. But to use it successfully, you have to meet the criteria I outlined. I have used this method on my wife's Evo successfully since the 4.22.651.2 OTA. That's about a year and four or five OTA's ago. The reasons for rooting her phone were to be able to freeze bloat, and utilize full capabilities of apps like root explorer, and titanium backup etc. She could care less about other roms.
Click to expand...

If you have titanium backup, it wouldn't mater if the flashing process wiped your data. Thats the purpose of the app.


I appreciate the effort, but bottom line is... there is a much easier way to go about getting the OTA files on your phone.
 
Lotsabs has a simple all in one solution to get everything updated without messing around with multiple flashes. Radios, bootloader and the rom all-in-one. Kind of a neat round about way to get there. :)

This does re-lock the bootloader, so for "most" android power users, this is an undesireable outcome.

Just like anything else in the root community, just make sure you read and understand exactly what you are doing to your phone BEFORE you proceed. O' and ask questions! :D
 
Rxpert83 said:
As well as there are plenty of completely stock ROMS that are untouched. There were already 2 of them just days after the OTA was released.



If you have titanium backup, it wouldn't mater if the flashing process wiped your data. Thats the purpose of the app.


I appreciate the effort, but bottom line is... there is a much easier way to go about getting the OTA files on your phone.
Click to expand...

Fair enough...to each his own. In my case, I simply felt that flashing the OTA would be the simplest method for me (ie: I knew what I was getting, a stock updated rom from HTC. It would still be rooted and I didn't have to even consider data loss).
Furthermore, I didn't have to consider the possibility of adding the extra steps of restoring data via Titanium if that freshly cooked "completely stock, but rooted" rom might not be up to snuff yet (it's happened) and for some reason it deleted or corrupted her apps and data. Remember that this is my wife's phone. She didn't want me to take it from her for any more time than was absolutely necessary. Have a nice day
 
Im just happy to see multible ways of getting the same results.
Example Unrooting gingerbread The exe ruu works everytime for me but the PC36IMG never worked but worked for others. Never to much info in my opinion.;)
 
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